Slavery and the Price of Freedom in Revolutionary New York

A Community Conversation with Humanities New York and Pace University

In revolutionary New York, ideals of liberty coexisted with the buying and selling of human beings. Join us for a conversation centered on Peter Williams Sr.’s 1796 manumission deed, the document that legally freed him from slavery. Issued by the trustees of John Street Methodist Church in Lower Manhattan, the deed will help us explore what changed for Peter and what it acknowledged about the life he was already building. What would he need beyond this document to make freedom meaningful in daily life?

A Community Conversation invites participants to explore a shared text and listen to one another’s perspectives. No historical expertise or advance preparation is needed. We’ll read the short document together, and Joe Murphy, Humanities New York’s Director of Strategic Partnerships, will guide the discussion. Questions are welcome. Bring your curiosity and willingness to listen.

Presented as part of Pace University’s project, “Sold in the Free City of New York”: The Business of Slavery and its Legacy in Lower Manhattan, with funding support from the Council of Independent Colleges History and Legacies of American Slavery Grant Program.

Thursday, Oct 15, 2026 | 7:00–8:15 p.m.
Doors open at 6:30 p.m.
Zannino Conference Room, 1st floor
Pace University, One Pace Plaza, New York, NY